John Cardinal O’Connor skipped the Alfred E. Smith Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria last night – but was in everyone’s thoughts.

The affair is famous for drawing top politicians and providing a backdrop for behind-the-scenes networking.

But this year’s event was more low-key as guests talked about their hopes for the quick recovery of the 79-year-old cardinal, who is recuperating from brain surgery to remove a small tumor.

A bright spot was the reading of a lighthearted letter from O’Connor, who usually hosts the Catholic fund-raiser, held in memory of the late Gov. Smith.

“The real reason I cannot be with you this evening is that I am replacing the late, great actor Yul Brynner in a new movie, ‘The Cardinal and I,'” O’Connor joked, referring to the chrome-domed actor known for his role in “The King and I,” and O’Connor’s own hair loss from his treatment.